Slovenia Trademark Registration

In order to obtain trademark protection in Slovenia you can register your trademark in two ways: First option is that you request registration in the entire European Union with one single application; this can be done via the European Union Trademark which grants trademark protection in the 28 country members of the EU (more info here). Second option is that you register directly your trademark in Slovenia. If you want to proceed this way please follow the steps described below.

A trademark attorney will process your trademark registration in Slovenia through the following steps:

The average time frame for the registration approval is 8 months, if no objections or oppositions arise.

If I register my trademark in Slovenia, do I have protection in other territories?

No. Slovenia is the territorial limit of the protection.

Do I need to sign a Power of Attorney?

Yes. A power of attorney is required to complete the application.

Are there any benefits from a pre-filing use of the trademark?

Rights to a trademark are primarily established through registration. However, pre-filing use offers minimal benefits such as:

Demonstrate the mark’s acquired distinctiveness

Dismiss oppositions based on non-distinctiveness

Will there be problems in case I don’t use my trademark after registration?

Not using a registered trademark makes it vulnerable to cancellation.

What are the types of trademark that can be registered in Slovenia?

Marks which are capable of being recreated graphically and adding distinction to the good or service are registrable.

Words

Names/personal names

3-dimensional shapes

Motions

Devices

Holograms

Colors

Sounds

Slogans

What are the phases of application after a trademark has been filed in Slovenia?

The process of trademark application in Slovenia in its proper order is as follows:

Examination – All applications will be examined in terms of:

Compliance with the requirements

Goods and services must be properly classified

The mark is clearly described and easy to understand

The mark is distinct or different from others

The mark is not deceiving

Publication – Third parties will be given an opportunity to initiate a dispute or opposition. Information about the application will be made accessible to everyone:

Mark

Applicants’ name and address

Applicants’ state/country of incorporation

Application’s date and number

Goods and/or services

Information on priority claim

Trademark representation

Registration – If the application was not rejected during the examination phase and if all oppositions are dismissed, the trademark office will then issue the registration certification.

What type of trademark is non-registrable?

The trademark law of Slovenia prohibits the registration of any of these marks:

Marks that are not compatible with moral principles and public order

Generic marks and common words

Names/flags/symbols of international organizations or nations/regions/states

Marks that are lacking in distinctive qualities

Names of geographic locations

Does Slovenia use the "Nice Classification" system?

Yes. Nice Classification is effective in Slovenia. A single application is sufficient to allow the trademark to cover multiple classes of goods/services.

Does the Community Trademark apply for Slovenia?

Yes. Slovenia is a European Union member which makes the Community Trademark (currently European Union Trade Mark) registration effective in this jurisdiction.

Is there any possibility to claim priority in Slovenia?

Yes. The home filing date can be recognized as the Slovenia filing date if:

Home country is a signatory of the Paris Convention

Home filing date does not exceed 6 months from the date of filing in Slovenia

Home country is a WTO (World Trade Organization) member

International registration can be based in Slovenia

What do I need to do to satisfy the use requirement?

The mark must be used within 5 years from the date it was registered and there should be no 5-year gap between each genuine use. Use must be on a business scale and must occur in the territory of Slovenia.

Once my trademark has been registered, for how many years will be valid?

Registered marks in Slovenia are valid for 10 years starting from the application date.

What will be the renewal date of my trademark?

The first renewal date is computed 10 years from the filing of application date.